Price Paid:  $1000.00 at bikesdirect

Model Year:
2007

Bike Setup:
currently adjusting to fit my comfort needs:
adding 80mm stem
adding selle italia slr
adding carbon 250mm straight non setback post stella azzurra handlebar tape
easton carbon bars
db45e computer
keo classic look pedals

Summary:
baught the 2009 model on bikes direct. just put on 1000 miles. few HONEST words about the bike= the pedals, stem, and seat NEED to be replaced almost immediatly. the spd pedals that come with the bike WILL kill you..you CANNOT unclip from them. the seat is a BIT uncomfortable but what do you expect...its a low quality seat and its understandable that one has to find a seat that fits right. also, the bike comes with a 100mm stem.. a bit long! especially with the setback seatpost, you stretch a bit on the bike. Also, make SURE you flip the stem, its on a negative angle when u first get it, just flip it to raise the bars a bit, your back will defintly thank you. also, raise the stem to the max space height for maximum comfort. the vuelta wheels can def. take a beating, they are a bit heavy but they are strong. i have gone over gravel, pot holes, ran off the road, everything, and they are completely perfect and tight. the kenda tires that come with the bike get better with time...the bareness in the middle gets ultra smooth but the sides stay threaded, defnitly stick nice even in rain. the ultegra shifters are amazing, but the deraillers are tricky to adjust out of the box. also, the ritchey bars on the bike are way too wide for a 52 inch bike. they put the same bars on the 58 as they do on the 52.

Strengths:
nice flex to frame
durable wheelset
ultegra shifers
30 speeds (youll never use all of them)

great beginner bike, but you will defintly be changing parts soon to fit your style

Weaknesses:
components NOT matched to ratio
examples:
long stem on short frame
very wide bars
bars have akward drops
tricky derailler adjustment
a bit heavy! defintly not under 19 out of the box
pedals and seat are garbage ( im serious)

Similar Products Used:
trek madone

Price Paid:  $996.00 at bikesdirect.com

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Niagara Falls to Youngstown NY

Bike Setup:
stock 2008 as on bikesdirect.com website

Summary:
I needed a bike for sprint triathlons and to keep up with by buddies that have super slick bikes. I have a couple kids and couldnt afford more than $1,000 for a bike (still too much but...). After an exhaustive search which included online searches, review of the reviews and trips to several LBSs - I chose the 2008 Grand Sprint based on absolutely unmatched value. The Kinesis frame that I was looking at at the LBSs (Fuji, Trek) appeared to be the exact same as this bike but the shops were asking minimum $1400 for last years model and max of $2200 for current year. These bikes were not even close to the same level so far as components are concerned. One LBS in particulair said that the frames ARE the same made by Kinesis http://www.kinesis.com.tw/
Please dont think I am a shill for Motobecane - I could care less, I just want the absolute best deal/ride possible. This is the first installment/review as I just received the Bike - So far so good but if the bike stinks I will let you know.

Strengths:
Unmatched value Unbelievable components
Beautiful Bike -so far

Weaknesses:
BikesDirect - no good phone number and only one person appears to be in customer service...

Similar Products Used:
Trek and fuji

Price Paid:  $995.00 at bikesdirect.com

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Current

Bike Setup:
As spec'd on bikesdirect.

Summary:
Old bike: Specialized Crossroads
Me: 37y, M, 6'1", 230 lbs

I am in a state of amazement at the Grand Sprint. My experience with other bikes is limited, but this bike is just solid and fast, right out of the box.

Have to admit I was pretty nervous about ordering online. The bike arrived in 4 days, nicely packaged, and was easy to put together. Came with American Classic Sprint 350 wheels and should have been Vuelta Pro SL's. I'm new enough to cycling to not really know the difference. So far the AC's seem fine, light, and they roll forever. I've asked them to ship the advertised Vuelta's so I can compare the 2.

The other components are top notch. Ultegra all around, and it shifts like butter. I need to have a LBS adjust the front trim on the double but overall, I'm super impressed with the quality.

My first thoughts as I test rode it were that the geometry is definitely not as relaxed as my Crossroads. This would not be a great distance bike unless you get a different stem and/or some spacers. The bars also are a little small for me but some new gel tape might fix that. Advanced riders might like the geometry better than myself. I don't like having to force my neck up quite that much.

First long ride was about 20 miles. My neck hurt afterward, but that's not all the bike's fault. I was impressed by a) how fast it was on climbs. WOW! Hills that used to feel like my legs were going to fall off, now feel like I could do them twice. Just stand on the pedals and it takes off like a rocket. Lower grade hills feel flat. b) the double is geared perfectly (53/39) for climbs and downhills. I was worried about this, but it was not a problem. c) Smooooth. The CF fork and seatstay do wonders to make this a cushy ride. d) the wheels are fantastic. I found that I could usually coast for as long as I wanted, even on low grade climbs.

Control is snappy but confident too. I haven't tested any super hot corners yet but the ones I did try held the line like a Porsche 944. I'll admit that maybe any good bike would be an improvement, compared to the ol' Crossroads.

I still need to make some adjustments, but after my first week I am really happy with this bike. Can't wait to get some shoes for the clipless pedals.

I'm not sure what to say about the saddle. Nicely padded compared to others. It was adequate for the 20 miles. I'm sure there are better ones but I'll stick with this for awhile.

Strengths:
Components, weight, wheels

Weaknesses:
the Cane Creek brakes feel soft to me, but I may just need to adjust them.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Crossroads, Specialized Allez Elite

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Bikes Direct

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Tour de Lacs

Summary:
Overall a great bike. I have over 2000 miles with no problems. Had the bike setup at a shop and wheels had to be trued. Changed saddle and tires otherwise stock.

Strengths:
Ultegra/105 group, weight overall quality

Weaknesses:
Paint sucks! VERY easy to chip and scratch. I am going to have it repainted this winter. To be fair I keep the bike inside of a 18 wheel tractor. You just look at the paint and it chips.

Price Paid:  $999.00 at Bikes Direct

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Monon Trail

Bike Setup:
Stock

Summary:
After a few months of research and deliberation, I decided to purchase the Grand Sprint. I based my decision on reviews from this website as well as the price. However, price was the deciding factor. Finding a similarly equipped bike locally for under $1,000 was impossible. The closest thing that I found was a Fuji Rubiax Pro. However, it was about $400 more and had many lesser components than the Grand Sprint.

I purchased the bike in the summer of 2006. My previous bike was an early 80’s Raleigh Technium with low-level Suntour components that I bought from my brother for $100 (he got the better end of that deal). Anything would have been better, but I feel like I made I wise choice with my purchase of the Grand Sprint. For various reasons, I did not get many miles on the bike last year. I was able to put quite a few miles on it this spring so I now feel that I am fair in my assessment.

My riding mostly consists of a few loops around my house and workplace that are around 20 miles in length. My goal is more for exercise than the pure enjoyment of cycling. I try to keep pressure on the pedals and my heart rate up through my entire ride. I like the aggressive riding position the Grand Sprint’s frame delivers. The Ultegra’s shifting is crisp. The carbon seat stays and fork help absorb the bumps. The seat is not very comfortable but more adequate for my relatively short rides. I would replace it if I planned to do any longer distances. The wheels (Alex on my model – I believe American Racing are now the standard equipment) have stayed true even through some very rough roads.

After several hundred miles of riding, everything is still smooth. I did the bulk of the assembly myself (it came 90% assembled) but decided to take it to a local bike shop for final adjustments and a safety inspection. I actually had two bike shops involved. The first shop could not get the shifting to work properly. The second shop explained the “trimming” feature (half-shift of the front derailleur when at the extremes of the rear cassette) and found some loose bolts the first shop missed. Since then, I have only had to make fix a few flats and make some minor adjustments to the cables along with routine lube and cleaning.

I have not had to deal with the manufacturer since my purchase. From other reviews, it sound like what you save in the cost of the bike is given up in customer support. If that is aspect of the purchase is important to you, it might be advised to stick with your local bike shop. Otherwise, you can save a bunch of money and get a good quality bike.

Strengths:
Quality components and frame, price

Weaknesses:
Seat

Similar Products Used:
Test rode Trek 1000 and Lemond Alpe D'Huez